Electrical outlet raceway

ABSTRACT

A simplified extensible raceway for electrical outlets including a cutable raceway that includes an electrical extension cord that can plug into an existing outlet and be extended in any direction by connection within the raceway to electrical outlet box(es) that engage the raceway and an existing supporting structure. The raceway and associated electrical outlet system can be extended by the addition of additional pairs of electrical extension cords having both male and female ends connected to additional electrical outlets.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/239,620 filed Jan. 29, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,878.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a do-it-yourself electricaldistribution system that utilizes an extensible raceway that includesextension cords connecting outlet boxes that can be mounted at varyingpositions along the raceway. The system permits easy installation ofexternal outlets that can be placed at various distances along theraceway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wall outlets provide access to electrical service in buildings and home.It is not unusual, especially in older structures, that it is desired toprovide additional outlets along or up a wall to accommodate theinstallation of additional electrical equipment. A wide variety ofso-called “power strips”, track systems and cordless extension systemshave been designed and provided for this purpose. The installation ofconventional track systems generally requires “hard wiring” of thesystem into the existing electrical system of the structure. This tendsto be complicated and dangerous for the homeowner. To overcome thisproblem, systems such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,621 toElmouchi, that include an adaptor that enables manual electricalcoupling between a conductor strip and a conventional duplex wall outletwhen the adaptor is positioned over the face of the outlet have beendesigned. U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,165 to Nadeau describes an electric powerdistribution system that plugs into an existing outlet and along whichvarious wall outlets may be positioned. U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,686 toLongmire shows a raceway plugged into an existing wall outlet that maybe extended using a series of additional raceways to form an arrangementwhere an electrical plug can be plugged into the raceway at varyinglengths.

While all of the foregoing provide useful solutions to the problem ofadding electrical distribution inside of a structure without hardwiring, there remains the problem of terminating the raceway containedwiring or conductor strip when the length of the section of racewaypurchased does not exactly meet the length required for a particularinstallation. For example, if one were running such a strip along thebase of a wall from a point that required a turn at a corner two feet,three and one half inches from the last junction, it would be necessaryto cut the purchased strip to obtain such an odd length. This poses theproblem of joining the next strip section, to that already cut, at thecorner. A similar problem could occur in any installation and for avariety of reasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a simplified extensible raceway forelectrical outlets comprising a cutable raceway that includes anelectrical extension cord that can plug into an existing outlet and beextended in any direction by connection within the raceway to electricaloutlet box that engages the raceway and an existing supporting structureand includes an additional pair of electrical extension cords havingboth male and female ends. Terminal electrical outlet boxes are alsoprovided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a partially blown-apart view of the electrical outlet racewayof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical outlet raceway system of the presentinvention comprises raceway 10, outlet box(es) 12, electrical outlet(s)14, and male 15 and female 17 connector equipped extension cords 16 and18. Attachment plates 20, and 22, whose function will be explainedhereinafter, are mounted on surface 24 to which the raceway system isbeing attached.

Raceway 10 is preferably manufactured from a material that is easily cutto length such as a plastic. Since extension cords 16 and 18, describedbelow, already have an insulation layer thereon, raceway 10 could befabricated from an easy to cut metal such as aluminum or some other thingauge metal.

Each of outlet boxes 12 include breakaway channel entries 28 on all foursides and slots 30 in their side walls for engagement with tabs 32 onoutlet mounting plates 20. Each of electrical outlets 14 has connectedthereto or integrated therewith at least one extension cord 16 and/or18. In the case where the initial connection is being made with anexisting electrical outlet 26, the electrical outlet 14 is equipped witha single extension cord 34 having a male connector 36 whose tines extendat right angles from extension cord 34 to make installation easier. Inthe case of the terminal electrical outlet 36, it is equipped with asingle male connector 15 equipped extension cord 16 since a secondextension cord is not required.

Those outlet mounting boxes 12 that include an electrical outlet 14 havea cover plate 38 that includes openings for electrical outlets 14. Coverplates 38 include a screw hole 40 for insertion of screw 42 that secureselectrical outlet 14 in outlet box 12. Cover plate 38 is preferablyformed as an integral unit with outlet box 12, but may also be aseparate unit attached to outlet box 12 by means of screws (not shown).In the case of the initial attachment of the raceway system of thepresent invention with the existing outlet 26, a solid cover plate 44 isincluded in outlet box 12.

Raceway cover 52 having flanges 54 that engage mating flanges 56 onraceway 10 provide the means for closing raceway 10 after installationas described below.

In the case where it is necessary to carry the raceway system of thepresent invention around a corner, an angular raceway section 50 can beprovided. In the alternative, a miter may be cut in the top and bottomsurfaces of raceway 10 and raceway 10 then bent around the corner usingits rear surface to hold it together. In the case of an outside angledcorner, an appropriate raceway member formed for such purpose is used.

Installation of the raceway system of the present invention isaccomplished by selecting an existing outlet 26 from which it is desiredto extend further outlets. The conventional cover plate (not shown) isremoved and outlet-mounting plate 22 attached about existing outlet 26.At those locations where it is desired to mount an outlet box, outletmounting plate(s) 20 are attached to surface 24 using appropriatefasteners. Outlet mounting plate 22 is a modified version of mountingplate 20 having an opening at the center thereof to permit access toexisting outlet 26 while providing tabs 32 for attachment of outlet box12 thereover. Sections of raceway 10 are then cut to the appropriatelength, if necessary, and applied to surface 24 extending in thedirection that installation of additional outlets is desired, eithervertically or horizontally as shown in the FIG. 1. Raceway sections 10may be attached to the wall or held in place by engagement of theopenings provided by removal of break away channel entries 28 in outletbox(es) 12 with raceway 10. It is preferred that mounting plates 20 beattached to surface 24 using some appropriate fastener or adhesive. Oncemounting plates 20 and raceway 10 are properly sized and secured, theappropriate type of outlet box 12, terminal, in-line or initialconnection, is installed at each of the appropriate locations, as shownin FIG. 1, by engaging tabs 32 with slots 30. The various extensioncords 16 and 18 are then plugged together and inserted into raceway 10.As is apparent, when a section of raceway 10 has been shortened bycutting, extension cords 16 and 18 are “shortened” by folding orotherwise inside of raceway 10. If electrical outlets 14 are located atthe ends of several sections of raceway 10, an appropriate length ofextension cord can be installed in raceway 10 therebetween. Cover 52 isthen snapped into place over raceway 10 by engagement of flanges 54 and56. Finally, connection of the installed system is made to existingelectrical outlet 26 and the final outlet box 12, having a solid coverplate 48 in lieu of an electrical outlet, engaged with modified mountingplate 22, to complete the installation.

As the invention has been described, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the same may be varied in any ways withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof. Any and all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An extensible electrical outlet raceway forinstallation on a surface comprising: a) one or more cutable racewaysections having raceway sides, an open side and elongated parallelflanges along edges of each of said raceway sides that define said openside; b) at least one outlet box having sides, a top, and a bottom, andan open front, removable channel entries that, when removed, are of asize and shape to receive said cutable raceway sections; c) at least oneelectrical outlet having an extension cord member connected theretomounted inside of said at least one box; d) at least one mounting platefor attachment to said surface and having an attachment for attachmentof at least one outlet box to said mounting plate; and e) an elongatedgenerally planar cover having two long parallel edges and parallelflanges for covering said elongated parallel flanges on said cutableraceway sections; and said extension cord member capable of establishinga continuous electrical circuit between said electrical outlet and otheroutlets when a series of two or more of said mounting plates areattached to said surface with said cutable raceway sections extendingbetween said mounting plates.
 2. The extensible outlet raceway of claim1 wherein said cutable raceway sections are fabricated from plastic. 3.The extensible outlet raceway of claim 1 wherein said extension cordmember capable of engaging an existing outlet includes a male plugmounted at a right angle to said extension cord member.
 4. Theextensible outlet raceway of claim 1 further including a modifiedmounting plate about said existing electrical outlet, said modifiedmounting plate having an opening in the center thereof to permit accessto said existing electrical outlet.
 5. The extensible outlet raceway ofclaim 1 further including at least one section of said cutable racewaysections that is angular to permit continuation of said cutable racewaysections around a corner.